Activists must be allowed to mark anniversary of leader’s death unhindered

11 October 2012

Cuba: Activists must be allowed to mark anniversary of leader's death
unhindered

The Cuban authorities must allow a group of local activists known as the
Ladies in White to commemorate freely the first anniversary of the death
of their leader Laura Pollán on 14 October in Havana, Amnesty
International said today.

Laura Pollán died of cardio-respiratory arrest on 14 October 2011.

The activists – who will be travelling from across the country - plan to
attend mass at the Church of Santa Rita in Havana and carry out a silent
march.

"Given the Cuban authorities' shameful record when it comes to the
treatment of human rights activists, we are concerned for the safety of
the Ladies in White as they commemorate the anniversary of the death of
one of their members," said Javier Zúñiga Mejía Borja, Special Advisor
for Regional Programmes at Amnesty International.

"Our request is simple: the Cuban authorities must ensure that the
Ladies in White and other activists in the country can express
themselves freely."

Members of the Ladies in White have been subjected to a permanent
campaign of intimidation, harassment and short term detentions to stop
them from peacefully campaigning for the release of political prisoners
and greater civil and political freedoms in Cuba.

On 20 September around 50 members of the group were arrested as they
travelled to Havana to participate in activities to celebrate the feast
day of Our Lady of Mercy (Virgen de la Merced) and in memory of late
political activists.

They were held for several days before being released without charge.
Various members of the Ladies in White based in the capital also
received intimidating notes aimed at discouraging them from taking part
in activities.

On 17 March, 18 Ladies in White were arrested during a peaceful
demonstration on the ninth anniversary of a crackdown on dissidence
which led to the imprisonment of 75 government critics.

All were released except for Niurka Luque Álvarez, who was released on 5
October pending trial on charges of "violence or intimidation" against a
state official ("atentado").

On 18 March, Lady in White Sonia Garro Alfonso, and her husband, Ramón
Alejandro Muñoz González, were detained at their home in Havana when
around 50 police forced their way into the house and fired rubber
bullets at them. They remain in prison without charge.

In February this year, authorities in Cuba prevented members of the
Ladies in White from reaching the group's headquarters to attend an
event in memory of the second anniversary of the death of activist
Orlando Zapata Tamayo, who died on hunger strike in protest at his
unfair incarceration. Those who had already congregated inside remained
there for nearly 48 hours as they feared they would be arrested if they
tried to leave.

"We are all peaceful women, we have the right to walk on the streets of
our country and campaign for the freedom of all political prisoners and
for greater freedoms in Cuba," said Berta Soler, spokesperson for the
Ladies in White.

Background information
The organization Ladies in White was formed by a group of female
relatives of the 75 prisoners of conscience who were imprisoned in March
2003 for their peaceful expression of critical opinions of the government.

The group attends mass every Sunday in the capital, Havana, dressed in
white, to pray for the release of their relatives. Afterwards they take
part in a procession from the church to a nearby park, carrying white
flowers. Following the release of all the prisoners of conscience from
the March 2003 crackdown, the Ladies in White have been campaigning for
the release of other political prisoners and for the lifting of
restrictions on fundamental civil and political freedoms in Cuba.

Laura Pollán died of cardio-respiratory arrest on 14 October 2011. Her
husband, Héctor Maseda Gutiérrez, was one of 75 individuals arrested and
sentenced during a crackdown against peaceful dissidents in 2003, all of
whom Amnesty International adopted as prisoners of conscience. Héctor
Maseda Gutiérrez was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment in March 2003
and conditionally released on 12 February 2011.
AI Index: PRE01/487/2012


http://www.amnesty.org/en/for-media/press-releases/cuba-activists-must-be-allowed-mark-anniversary-leader-s-death-unhindered-2